EFCC traced illicit money to the account belonging to a religious body

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede, has said that a particular religious sect launders money for terrorists.

The EFCC boss said the commission has uncovered the money laundering scheme and found out that, the religious body was protecting a money launderer.

He further said that the body was trying to cover up for the launderer after funds suspected to be illicit were traced to its account.

Olukoyede made this known at a one-day dialogue on “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption,” on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

He said if the allegation is not through why would the religious body run to the court to get a restraining order stopping the Commission from investigating the sources of the funds.

A religious sect in this country had been found to be laundering money for terrorists,” he said.

“We were able to trace some laundered money to a religious organisation, and when we approached the religious organisation about it and we were carrying out our investigation, we got a restraining order stopping us from carrying out our investigation.”

Olukoyede said the commission was committed on following the matter till the end, saying that it has already appealed the restraining order and hope to recover funds stolen or gotten through illicit means.